Page 9 of Ask Me Something

I didn’t protest. At thirty-two years old, I couldn’t believe I was fighting tears over a guy.

“I take it that was the girl from the text message?” Catherine asked softly, bringing me out of my daze once we were in the backseat.

“Yeah, it sure was.” I exhaled, staring straight forward. “I’m being stupid.”

“If it helps, I think he was absolutely stunned she showed up. It was obvious that he didn’t invite her.”

“I figured as much. It’s not his style, and we’ve sort of had this unspoken agreement that we don’t bring people we’re dating around one another.”

“So you’ve known each other for almost eight years and neither one of you has ever brought a date around the other?”

Turning toward her, I shrugged. “I’m not really a relationship kind of girl, and he’s never been serious about anyone that I’m aware of. But considering he’s known Jamie since college, maybe he’s been seeing her for years.” The very thought made me want to throw up.

“I’m not criticizing your lack of long-term relationships. I’m only mentioning the fact that neither one of you wants the appearance of one. Or even a casual date. Almost like you’re waiting for the other one to make a move. That kind of speaks volumes, don’t you think?”

Sighing, I realized a good friend to confide in would be nice, and so I came clean. “We, uh, almost slept together three years ago down in Miami. But let’s just say fate intervened, and it didn’t end up happening. After I got promoted last year, I practically patted myself on the back for not crossing that professional line because he became my boss. But when I moved up here to New York, I missed him much more than I ever thought I would. All this time, and I didn’t say anything. Now it’s too late.”

Catherine shook her head. “Who says? Remember you’re fierce, which means nothing intimidates you. The only reason that twit brought it up was to try to undermine what you do have with Brian. She noticed something from the moment she sat down. It’s one hundred percent certain she came tonight because she knew he was most likely blowing her off for you. Clearly, he’s talked about you enough that she perceived you as a threat. She may have known him longer, but it’s evident who knows him better.”

I was grateful for her loyalty. “Thanks. I appreciate you taking her down a notch. I get enough shit about my natural tendency to be overly reactive, and you saved me from saying something I shouldn’t have. It was impressive, Catherine.” I cracked a smile at how smooth she’d been.

She laughed. “It was my pleasure. Believe me, you don’t get to where I am without having to deal with plenty of catty women. And it was good that her little comment about Haylee irritated the crap out of Brian, so there’s that.”

The car pulled up in front of my building. “Thanks for being supportive and listening. I, uh—” I took a deep breath before I admitted, “I don’t have a lot of female friends. Chalk it up to my RBF or the fact that I forget how nice it is for someone to have my back.” Or maybe being fierce really meant I was too much of a bitch to sustain any real relationships. “Suffice it to say I’m glad we’re friends Catherine.”

She looked like she might tear up and squeezed my hand. “Me, too. Now go have a nice bath and a Merry Christmas with your family. I’ll see you in a few days, and we’ll spend a nice New Year’s in paradise.”

* * *

After entering my apartment,I poured a large glass of wine, took that relaxing bath, and checked my phone way too often. What was I hoping for? A message from Brian telling me that he wasn’t going home with Jamie? God, what I needed was more liquor and my vibrator.

With two more glasses down and my suitcase packed, I was feeling slightly less anxious and ready for bed. Thinking back to that night in Miami three years ago, I sighed.

Brian and I had won a major campaign and our flow in the presentation had been amazing. We’d gone out for drinks later that night to celebrate in South Beach. Before we knew it, we were in the middle of a dance floor, hot and heavy. We shortened one another’s names, as if we could be Sash and Bri for the night and thus shed any thoughts of our professional relationship. The sexual attraction over the prior four years had been building up to that moment. We’d gone back to the hotel in the cab with his hand inching up my thigh and had arrived impatient to get naked. He’d promised to meet me in my room in ten minutes and I remembered my eagerness to have him in my bed. And then the worst thing possible had happened. And I’d texted him that we couldn’t.

My phone rang, interrupting my trip down memory lane. After looking at the caller ID, I tried not to appear anxious and let Brian’s number ring twice. “Hello.”

“Hey, do you mind telling me what the hell that was about?” his voice came through.

“Excuse me?” I could hear the sounds of the street on his end and had a sick feeling that he could be leaving Jamie’s place now.

“The fact that you called me Bri for the first damn time since Miami.”

My stomach clenched and I fought my irritation. “It wasn’t intentional, and if we are seriously fighting about names, how about the fact that I had to find out from your girlfriend that you and Josh, my boss and the owner of the company, have a nickname for me behind my back?”

He sighed audibly into the phone. “That was not how it was meant. It was only ever a compliment and it wasn’t done intentionally.”

“You’re telling me that she meant it as a compliment and let it slip unintentionally tonight?” Unbelievable.

“No, not Jamie.”

The sound of her name on his lips made me cringe.

“I meant that Josh and I didn’t purposely call you that in front of her. It slipped and was in reference to the Allied Airlines pitch four years ago where you were grilled by that jerk. Remember? We said that with one arch of your brow you had him regretting his tone. And for the record, she’s not my girlfriend.”

I tried not to analyze the relief that hit me with his last sentence. “So where are you that you’re calling me right now?” I hoped my tone was non-accusatory.

“Getting into a cab.”

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